Michelle Obama Cuts the Ribbon for New Anna Wintour Costume Center

By

Ray A. Smith

May 5, 2014 1:32 pm ET

The love the American fashion industry has had for First Lady Michelle Obama is no longer an unrequited love.

On Monday morning, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s grand Temple of Dendur, Mrs. Obama returned the love the fashion industry has had for her, cutting the ribbon for the opening of the Costume Institute’s new Anna Wintour Costume Center.

Though greatly admired for having a great fashion sense, with blogs that regularly post Michelle Obama lookbooks, Mrs. Obama has rarely appeared at big fashion events or cozied with the industry in an overt way.

Until Monday. Mrs. Obama, in a striking Naeem Khan dress, said “I’m here because I have such respect and admiration for this woman, who I am proud to call my friend,” referring to Ms. Wintour.